Leib Out Of Portuguese Grand Prix

By Cycle News Staff | 6/8/2012 1:02 PM

Monster Yamaha's Michael Leib will miss this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix as he continues to feel the effects of an illness. Leib, who pulled out of the French Grand Prix last weekend after barely making it through the qualifying heat, is likely suffering from the Epstein Barr virus, according to Yamaha.

Nineteen-year-old Mel Pocock will replace Leib for the Portugues round. Pocock won the opening round of the European MX2 Championship last week in France.

After several tests and consultations, strong indications point to the 20-year-old Leib as suffering with the initial stages of Epstein Barr virus. Further examinations were scheduled to be performed in England, but the immediate solution to prevent the condition becoming chronic involves rest and avoidance of contact sports.

Pocock will step into the team for the fourth time this season after having raced his YZ250F in Holland, Bulgaria and Italy. The Brit is focused squarely on the British and European championships in 2012 and is currently second in the former and leads the standings after one round of seven in the latter.

As suspected the Grand Prix of Portugal has also come around too quickly for Christophe Charlier who dislocated his right shoulder last Sunday in France. The Frenchman should be back on his factory YZ250FM next weekend in Bastogne for the trip to Belgium.